Apple to Scan Public iCloud Links for Harmful Content
Starting with the upcoming iOS 27.3 update, Apple will begin scanning iCloud files shared via public links for illicit material. By transitioning these shared items away from end-to-end encryption, the company gains the technical ability to monitor and remove content it deems harmful, alongside the power to disable user accounts.
The policy change, detailed in a recent support document, applies to items set to "Anyone with the Link" permissions across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and visionOS. While the company has not provided a precise definition of what constitutes "harmful content," the move follows mounting public pressure to address the storage of child sexual abuse material within its cloud ecosystem.
Apple has reserved the right to modify, move, or delete files it flags, and may escalate cases to law enforcement if deemed necessary. The company also retains the authority to block accounts or prevent users from creating new ones entirely. These security adjustments arrive as Apple rolls out the first developer betas for the 27.3 software cycle, with a full public release slated for December.
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